It is hard to
believe that, until recently, this cottage had been home to a number of
visitors to the area. Some came here seeking a return to a simpler lifestyle,
others such as photographers and writers seeking inspiration from this house
and its surroundings. Now it lies empty, keeper of the untold secrets of its
past, and a testament to the skill of the men who built it. On a beautiful
summers day, when the sun shines, one can feel the heartbreak the Kavanagh
family must have felt when leaving this idyllic spot, heading for the
Emigration Ships. On the other hand, if you were here on a cold, blustery and
wet winter's night you would appreciate how difficult it must have been for
anybody to eke out a living on this mountainside. At times like these,
emigration was a welcome option.

As The Cottage was opened to the
public, certain aspects of the house's history and the lifestyles of those that
lived here became known. As an example, different ways of forecasting the
weather were used by the people, probably the most influential and potentially
disruptive factor of life here.The Cormorant, a seabird native to our shores,
would fly high far above the mountain letting the locals know of impending bad
weather. Also, if the houses on the far peninsula were visible, the locals
could expect bad weather, with cold and wind. When telling the time, the
location of the sun above certain landmarks was used. When the Sun was visible
over Doonbeg Fort from the Cottage, it was midday for most of the year.